THUNDER: Binghamton takes another game from Trenton

By BILLY THARP, For The Trentonian

Thursday, June 13, 2013

TRENTON — On a hot and humid night, the Thunder bats and gloves went cold as they dropped a 6-1 decision to the Binghamton Mets. Thunder starting pitcher Matt Tracy lasted only two innings in the loss and the Thunder mustered just six hits, three of which came in the first inning.

The Mets opened the scoring in the first when Josh Rodriguez walked and Travis Taijeron launched a monster double that just missed being a home run. Allan Dykstra drove in both runs on an RBI single and an error on Thunder second baseman Jose Pirela.

The Thunder got one back in their half of the first when three Thunder singles fell in the bright sun. Ramon Flores got the inning started with a double and Slade Heathcott followed with a single of his own. Tyler Austin got the Thunder on the board with a shallow fly ball to center that managed to fall. Two flyouts ended the Thunder rally.

In the top of the second Thunder starter Matt Tracy ran into trouble. He walked Wilfredo Tovar and gave up another big RBI double to Taijeron to make the score 3-1.

In the second, Mets starter Darin Gorski would set the Thunder down. In the top of the third the Thunder had a new pitcher on the mound as Tracy, after only 64 pitches, was replaced by Fred Lewis.

Lewis struggled to find the plate in the inning as he walked Danny Muno with the bases loaded driving in another run making the score 4-1. Lewis was able to rebound and strike out Rodriguez to end the inning.

After shutting down the Mets in the 4th Lewis again ran into trouble when Joe Bonfe reached base and Alonzo Harris followed with a double. With the Thunder infield drawn in Tovar poked a single between first and second base scoring both runs and Tovar advanced to third on an error by Tyler Austin making the score 6-1.

In the bottom of the fifth the Mets brought in Scott Atchison who was rehabbing from the major league club and he would record two strike outs and get the win.

Francisco Rondon replaced Lewis in the fifth and struck out the first four batters he faced and helped hold the Met lead at 6-1.

The Thunder would threaten again in the sixth when there was a man on third and Reegie Corona up to bat. Corona hit a rocket but right at the shortstop that would end the rally.

After 3 1/3 innings and seven strikeouts, Rondon exited. Since his return from being designated for assignment, Rondon has tossed nine shutout innings, allowed just four hits, walked six and fanned a dozen.

The Thunder would threaten again in the bottom of the 8th when Kyle Roller would hit a double down the third base line but he would be stranded there as once again the Thunder could muster no offense.

After the game, manager Tony Franklin had some strong words for the team.

“I just wanted to remind them of how we have to play,” he said. “It’s not acceptable what we are doing now.”

When asked about Tracy leaving after two innings Franklin revealed that Tracy was removed because of a lower body injury. Franklin said, “We took him out due to his discomfort. It obviously was affecting his ability to find the strike zone.”

It was not a loss for all Thunder players though as after the game catcher JR Murphy was promoted to Triple-A/Scranton.

Murphy said: “They didn’t tell me anything specific (as to why he was promoted). They just told me that they were proud of me and I made a lot of good strides and they think I deserve it.”